Proposed West Springfield adult bookstore to get 2nd hearing before Board of Appeals

The Republican file photo | Michael S. GordonThe Adults Only Video Store, seen here at 2025 Riverdale St. in West Springfield, was operated by Daniel Crespo for 16 years before it was forced to close because it lacked the proper zoning. Crespo is seeking to open an adult bookstore on Doty Circle.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Would-be adult business operator Daniel A. Crespo will get his second day in court so to speak Monday when his application to run an adult bookstore at 74 Doty Circle comes before the Board of Appeals for the second time.

The hearing has been scheduled for 7:05 p.m. in the municipal building.

The reason for the rematch is a decision by the Planning Board allowing the matter to go back before the Board of Appeals for a second hearing. Operators of adult businesses need a permit granted by a unanimous vote of the Board of Appeals. On Nov. 22, the Board of Appeals voted 2-1 to allow the business on Doty Circle, falling short of the needed unanimity.

Planning Board member Christine M. Kumiega cast the dissenting vote, citing what she felt would be the business’s incompatibility with what she called a high concentration of residences in the neighborhood.

However, the Planning Board on Feb. 16 voted unanimously to allow Crespo to go back before the Board of Appeals for reconsideration.

“The Board finds that information related to the neighborhood uses, including residential uses as defined by the Board of Appeals, was not fully presented by the applicant during their Nov. 22 hearing,” Planning Director Richard A. Werbiskis wrote in an approval for reconsideration of a special permit filed Thursday with the Town Clerk’s Office.

In his request for “repetitive petition,” or a second appearance before the Board of Appeals, Crespo wrote he wants to present information based “on surrounding land uses.”

There are no residences within 1,000 feet of the area proposed for the adult bookstore, according to documents in Crespo’s original request for consideration by the Board of Appeals.

Crespo had operated his Adults Only Video Store at 2025 Riverdale St. for 16 years without any incidents involving the police. He was closed down by the city as of Oct. 31 after officials noted the site lacked the zoning for an adult business. Crespo could not be reached for comment.

Building Commissioner Patrick J. Moore told The Republican last fall that the business had been so low key that he had not noticed it.

Other than Doty Circle, the only other places zoned to allow adult businesses are two other areas off Riverdale Street and a strip of land along Union Street.